CWS: South Carolina wins first game

OMAHA, Neb -- Blake Cooper allowed three hits in eight-plus innings and Bobby Haney drove in a career-high three runs, moving South Carolina within a win of its first national title with a 7-1 victory over UCLA in Game 1 of the College World Series finals Monday night.

Pitching on three days' rest for the second straight time, Cooper struck out 10 and carried a one-hitter into the ninth before running into trouble.

South Carolina fans cheered a drawn-out "COOOOOP" as the senior right-hander left after 136 pitches and the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth. Reliever John Taylor finished.

Gerrit Cole (11-4) pitched seven innings and took the loss.

The Gamecocks (53-16) and Bruins (51-16) play Game 2 on Tuesday night.